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THE 

.THE 


UNIVERSE*  OF 
CALIFORNIA 

SAN  OIEQC 


THE   SIGNS   IN  THE 
CHRISTMAS   FIRE 


"THERE  IS   THE   SIGN   OF  THE   WISE  MEN, 


CHRISTMAS    Fl 


WILLIAM  ALLEN  KNIGHT 


AUTHOR     OF 
THE   SONG    OF   OUR    SYRIAN    GUEST 


THE  PILGRIM  PRESS 

BOSTON  NEW    YORK  CHICAGO 


COPYRIGHT,    MCMVII 
BY    WILLIAM    ALLEN    KNIGHT 


ENTERED  AT  STATIONBBs'  HALL,   LONDOM 

ALL   EIGHTS    EE3EEVED 


THE    PII.CRTM    PRESS 
BOSTON 


The  dear  father  and  mutl  er 
Whojirat  taught  me  to  love 
The  story  of  the  wise  men 
And  the  star 


PROLOGUE 

NOW  when  Jesus  was  born  in 
Bethlehem  of  Judea  in  the  days 
of  Herod  the  king,  behold,  there 
came  wise  men  from  the  east  to 
Jerusalem,  saying,  Where  is  he 
that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews  ? 
for  we  have  seen  his  star  in  the 
east,  and  are  come  to  worship 

him 

Then  Herod,  when  he  had 
privily  called  the  wise  men,  in 
quired  of  them  diligently  what 
time  the  star  appeared.  And 
he  sent  them  to  Bethlehem. 

'When  they  had  heard  the  king, 
they  departed  ;  and,  lo,  the  star 
which  they  saw  in  the  east, 
went  before  them,  till  it  came 
'and  stood  over  where  the  young 
child  was.  When  they  saw  the 
jstar,  they  rejoiced  with  exceed- 
iing  great  joy. 

MATTHEW  II. 


THE   SIGNS   IN  THE 
CHRISTMAS  FIRE 


VvATCH,  still  watch,  Christina ; 
we  shall  see  them  here  also,  my 
daughter.'1 

The  old  Greek's  face  was  turned 
to  the  fireglow  and  between  the 
masses  of  hair  and  beard  his  wide 
forehead  shone  in  its  light.  The 
words  were  for  the  girl  at  his  side 
alone,  for  his  voice  was  low  and 
fatherly.  Yet  who  will  blame  me 
for  hearing  what  he  said  as  we  sat 
that  Christmas  Eve  with  no  lights 
save  our  fire  in  the  room,  while  a 
snowfall  muffled  all  sounds  out  in 
the  dark  and  lifted  white  arms  at 
the  windows?  If  you  could  have 
seen  them  there  in  the  firelight,  the 
somewhat  shaggy  yet  altogether 
genial  old  man  and  the  girl  with 
her  smiling  quietness,  you  would 
have  listened  too. 

One  summer  night  in  an  Oxford 
inn  I  had  talked  with  this  stranger 
until  the  wakeful  bells  of  that 
towered  town  had  joined  clamor 
ously  to  warn  us  of  the  hour.  That 
very  day  we  had  chanced  to  meet  in 
the  church  long  known  as  St.  Mary- 
the- Virgin's.  It  is  a  storied  old 


THE   SIGNS    IN    THE 

building  and  he  was  standing  near 
the  altar  looking  down  at  the  little 
gravestone  which,  sheltered  in  a  holy 
place,  bears  the  name  Amy  Robsart. 
He  seemed  to  be  musing  on  the  story 
of  that  ill-fated  young  wife.  As  I 
stood  near  him  he  turned,  pointed 
to  the  stone  and  shook  his  head, 
gazing  at  me  out  of  misty  eyes. 

That  night  while  a  rain  was  fall 
ing  we  settled  in  a  snug  corner  at 
the  inn,  and  so  fell  to  talking  as 
even  strangers  will  do  at  such  times. 
What  he  said  before  we  parted 
would  make  a  story  good  to  tell; 
but  it  is  enough  now  that  I  listened 
until  the  bells  of  Oxford  broke  the 
stillness  with  long  pealing,  and  then, 
far  up  the  rambling  stairs,  lay  won 
dering  who  this  stranger  could  be, 
until  the  sound  of  the  rain  on  the 
roofs  was  lost  in  sleep. 

It  happened  that  I  did  not  see 
him  again  till  a  day  when  I  spied 
him  walking  slowly  in  a  crowded 
street  of  my  own  city  in  America. 
He  was  quickly  alert  and  guarded 
at  first,  but  was  hearty  enough  after 
he  had  placed  me  in  his  memory. 
We  strolled,  chatting  as  we  went, 
until  we  came  into  the  quaint  en 
closure  of  a  once  fashionable  square 
whose  elms  and  dwellings  are  left 
now  to  a  fading  gentility.  "  Here 
ai*e  my  lodgings,  sir,"  he  said,  stop 
ping  abruptly.  "  Will  you  not  give 


CHRISTMAS    FIRE 

me   the   pleasure   of  receiving  you 
within?" 

The  old-time  knocker  brought 
a  speedy  response.  It  was  a  girl 
who  stood  in  the  door  with  beam 
ing  face  and  lifted  arms  —  a  girl 
maidenly,  though  molded  like  a 
little  woman  as  is  the  way  with 
daughters  of  the  East,  glowing  in 
her  joyousness,  and  by  every  token 
of  feature,  voice  and  bearing,  well- 
bred.  At  sight  of  me  she  quickly 
quieted  her  welcome.  For  my  part 
I  stood  perplexed.  To  that  moment 
I  had  known  the  old  man  at  my  side 
as  a  lone  traveler  only  ! 

**  My  daughter,  sir,"  he  said,  smil 
ing  with  a  pride  which  lighted  up  his 
eyes.  "Christina  —  your  father's 
friend." 

So  was  it,  as  men  see  ways  past 
finding  out,  that  among  the  guests 
in  our  home  on  the  approaching 
Christmas  Eve  were  Dr.  Melisander 
and  his  daughter. 

Would  that  you  could  have  seen 
the  picture  Christina  made  in  the 
brightness  of  our  fire  when  I  over 
heard  those  words,  "Watch,  still 
watch,  Christina ;  we  shall  see  them 
here  also,  my  daughter."  Outlined 
in  the  ruddy  light  her  form  moved 
not  at  all.  The  small  hands  folded 
in  her  lap  did  not  stir.  So  eager 
was  her  gaze  into  the  fireplace  that 
the  waves  of  lustrous  clack  hair  on 


THE    SIGNS    IN    THE 


her  shoulders  were  not  disquieted 
by  the  turning  of  her  head.  The 
only  token  that  she  heard  her  father 
was  the  smile  that  came  and  lingered. 
Sweet  with  childlikeness  it  gleamed 
above  the  shining  of  the  firelight  in 
her  eyes.  So  Christina  sat  in  silence 
watching  our  Christmas  fire. 

"As  I  was  saying,  sir,"  and  Dr. 
Melisander  now  took  the  tone  of 
voice  in  which  he  had  been  talking 
to  us,  "  our  Bethlehem  is  a  wee 
place  —  a  strangely  small  town  in 
deed —  to  draw  the  hearts  of  your 
far-away  cities  as  it  does  to-night. 
I  was  thinking  of  this  as  we  came 
hither  through  your  shopping  streets 
all  ablaze  this  Christmas  Eve.  Ah, 
sir,  the  throng  that  pushed  by  the 
slow  old  man  with  a  broad  back  and 
a  cloak  that  flapped  and  was  often 
in  the  way  of  their  armfuls  of  gifts 
—  they  knew  not  how  he  was  musing 
of  his  little  Bethlehem  among  the 
far,  silent  hills !  Of  a  truth  those 
many  people  could  not  imagine  how 
empty,  notwithstanding  their  loads 
of  things,  the  multitude  seemed  to 
him  in  their  big,  shining  city  across 
the  seas,  but  for  the  memories  of 
that  small  town." 

He  paused,  shaking  his  head. 
And  there  was  a  motion  in  his  thick 
beard  as  of  laughter.  He  was  re 
joicing  for  little  Bethlehem.  Then 
he  seemed  to  give  himself  to  ponder- 


CHRISTMAS   FIRE 

ing.  Quickly  he  glanced  at  the  fire 
with  grave  eyes. 

"The  signs  will  yet  appear,  my 
child."  He  spoke  with  the  same 
softened  voice  which  had  made  me 
listen  before. 

Christina's  hands  moved  now  in 
a  girl's  eager  way.  She  lifted  her 
eyes  to  her  father's,  and  I  watched 
to  see  the  smile  once  more.  It 
came  —  he  uttered  a  word  which  I 
am  sure  meant  darling  to  a  Greek 
girl  —  it  lingered  as  her  gaze  re 
turned  to  the  fire.  Then  I  knew 
that  Christina's  smile  was  story- 
laden. 

A  burst  of  song  was  heard  across 
the  hall.  Dr.  Melisander  turned  to 
listen. 

"  How  good  it  is  to  have  them 
at  home  again ! "  said  a  motherly 
voice. 

"  What  carol  is  that,  madam  ? 
Are  not  your  daughters  singing  a 
Christmas  carol  ?  I  seem  to  re 
member  hearing  it  somewhere  —  in 
London  it  was,  if  my  memory  be 
true."  Still  listening  he  sat  in  silence. 
No  answer  was  needed.  For  above 
the  merry  babel  in  another  room 
arose  the  refrain  once  and  again, 
until  the  company  of  student  friends 
broke  into  full  chorus  singing  : 

"  Carol,  brothers,  carol,  carol  joyfully, 
Carol  the  good  tidings,  carol  merrily ; 
And  pray  a  gladsome  Christmas 


¥, 


• 


THE    SIGNS    IN    THE 

For  all  good  Christian  men, 
Carol,  brothers,  carol,  Christmas  day 
again." 

The  swell  of  happy  voices  laden 
with  that  pathos  which  older  hearts 
are  apt  to  hear  when  young  men 
and  maidens  sing  together,  answered 
the  question  by  the  fire,  and  no 
words  were  spoken.  The  old  Greek 
leaned  toward  the  blaze  with  an 
elbow  on  his  knee  and  an  agitated 
hand  in  his  beard.  There  was  tear- 
mist  in  his  great  eyes.  For  the 
moment  he  seemed  to  have  for 
gotten  us. 

"  And  they  are  singing  such  songs 
in  a  thousand  cities  to-night,  my 
Bethlehem  ! "  we  heard  him  saying. 

He  was  still  sitting  so  when  the 
piano  sounded  new  chords.  I 
thrilled  with  expectancy,  recogniz 
ing  the  music  and  wondering  that 
the  singers  had  hit  upon  it  at  such 
a  moment;  for  soon  their  voices 
glided  into  this  melody  of  words : 

"  O  little  town  of  Bethlehem, 

How  still  we  see  thee  lie  ! 
Above  thy  deep  and  dreamless  sleep 

The  silent  stars  go  by  ; 
Yet  in  thy  dark  streets  shineth 

The  everlasting  Light ; 
The  hopes  and  fears  of  all  the  years 

Are  met  in  thee  to-night." 

Dr.  Melisander's  face  was  beam 
ing.  He  raised  himself  to  listen. 
His  eyes  were  brimming  with  tears. 


When  the  song  ended  he  exclaimed 
in  a  hushed  voice  : 

"  Oh,  sir,  the  man  who  wrote  those 
words  —  whoever  he  was,  I  know  not 
—  he  understood!  He  must  have 
seen  it,  sir;  he  must  have  seen  our 
Bethlehem  !  It  lies  there  in  a  wide 
silence  with  the  hills  of  Judea  around 
it  —  where  shepherds  wander  with 
flocks,  and  fields  of  wheat  and  barley 
are  in  the  valleys  and  vineyards  on 
the  slopes.  You  see  it,  sir,  as  you 
follow  the  road  from  Jerusalem  — 
you  see  it  lifted  on  the  shoulders  of 
a  great  hill,  that  you  may  greet  it 
lovingly.  You  find  it  shabby  enough, 
sir,  the  dear  little  town  !  And  dark 
are  its  streets  by  night,  as  that  song 
says.  But  the  joy  of  many  nations 
shines  there  —  you  will  never  forget 
that  —  never.  And  the  beauty  of 
our  women,  sir,  will  often  bring  to 
your  memory  the  young  mother  who 
there  held  Him  in  her  arms !" 

The  old  man  was  near  to  sobbing 
in  the  fulness  of  his  emotion.  Yet 
so  radiant  was  his  countenance  that  I 
laughed  with  delight  at  his  joy  over 
Bethlehem.  But  one  who  listened 
with  me  glanced  up  quickly  as  he 
spoke  of  Bethlehem  women,  and  I 
followed  her  eyes  to  his  daughter. 
The  girPs  rich  beauty  haloed  in  the 
firelight  interpreted  his  words  anew 
and  stilled  my  mirth.  For  I  saw 
now  that  grief  was  mingled  with 


Jf 

17.     ; 


THE    SIGNS    IN    THE 

For  all  good  Christian  men, 
Carol,  brothers,  carol,  Christmas  day 
again." 

The  swell  of  happy  voices  laden 
with  that  pathos  which  older  hearts 
are  apt  to  hear  when  young  men 
and  maidens  sing  together,  answered 
the  question  by  the  fire,  and  no 
words  were  spoken.  The  old  Greek 
leaned  toward  the  blaze  with  an 
elbow  on  his  knee  and  an  agitated 
hand  in  his  beard.  There  was  tear- 
mist  in  his  great  eyes.  For  the 
moment  he  seemed  to  have  for 
gotten  us. 

"  And  they  are  singing  such  songs 
in  a  thousand  cities  to-night,  my 
Bethlehem  ! "  we  heard  him  saying. 

He  was  still  sitting  so  when  the 
piano  sounded  new  chords.  I 
thrilled  with  expectancy,  recogniz 
ing  the  music  and  wondering  that 
the  singers  had  hit  upon  it  at  such 
a  moment;  for  soon  their  voices 
glided  into  this  melody  of  words : 

"  O  little  town  of  Bethlehem, 

How  still  we  see  thee  lie  ! 
Above  thy  deep  and  dreamless  sleep 

The  silent  stars  go  by  ; 
Yet  in  thy  dark  streets  shineth 

The  everlasting  Light ; 
The  hopes  and  fears  of  all  the  years 

Are  met  in  thee  to-night." 

Dr.  Melisander's  face  was  beam 
ing.  He  raised  himself  to  listen. 
His  eyes  were  brimming  with  tears. 


ft 


When  the  song  ended  he  exclaimed 
in  a  hushed  voice  : 

"  Oh,  sir,  the  man  who  wrote  those 
words  —  whoever  he  was,  I  know  not 
—  he  understood!  He  must  have 
seen  it,  sir;  he  must  have  seen  our 
Bethlehem  !  It  lies  there  in  a  wide 
silence  with  the  hills  of  Judea  around 
it  —  where  shepherds  wander  with 
flocks,  and  fields  of  wheat  and  barley 
are  in  the  valleys  and  vineyards  on 
the  slopes.  You  see  it,  sir,  as  you 
follow  the  road  from  Jerusalem  — 
you  see  it  lifted  on  the  shoulders  of 
a  great  hill,  that  you  may  greet  it 
lovingly.  You  find  it  shabby  enough, 
sir,  the  dear  little  town  !  And  dark 
are  its  streets  by  night,  as  that  song 
says.  But  the  joy  of  many  nations 
shines  there  —  you  will  never  forget 
that  —  never.  And  the  beauty  of 
our  women,  sir,  will  often  bring  to 
your  memory  the  young  mother  who 
there  held  Him  in  her  arms  !" 

The  old  man  was  near  to  sobbing 
in  the  fulness  of  his  emotion.  Yet 
so  radiant  was  his  countenance  that  I 
laughed  with  delight  at  his  joy  over 
Bethlehem.  But  one  who  listened 
with  me  glanced  up  quickly  as  he 
spoke  of  Bethlehem  women,  and  I 
followed  her  eyes  to  his  daughter. 
The  giiTs  rich  beauty  haloed  in  the 
firelight  interpreted  his  words  anew 
and  stilled  my  mirth.  For  I  saw 
now  that  grief  was  mingled  with 


THE   SIGNS    IN   THE 

gladness  in  his  tears  for  little  Beth 
lehem  with  its  beautiful  women. 

Dr.  Melisander  turned  to  his 
daughter  also.  Soon  they  were  talk 
ing  together  and  I  caught  words  not 
of  our  tongue.  Suddenly  Christina 
reached  forth  her  bared  arm  point 
ing  into  the  fireplace.  Looking  up 
at  her  father  she  said  softly,  "  There 
is  the  sign  of  the  wise  men,  my 
father!11  The  bearded  face  drew 
near  her  shoulder  with  watching 
eyes. 

They  were  sitting  thus  when  a 
moment  later  the  singers  stood  in 
the  doorway.  Their  voices  were 
hushed  at  the  sight. 

"  What  is  it  ?  ^  whispered  one  of 
them,  tiptoeing  into  the  room. 

Dr.  Melisander  noticed  their  pres 
ence.  "  Have  vou  never  watched  for 
the  signs  in  the  Christmas  fire  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"What  signs?"  exclaimed  one 
and  another,  coming  nearer. 

"  The  signs  that  first  came  true  in 
our  Bethlehem.11 

"  What  signs  ?  w  they  repeated. 
"  Well,  well !  Can  it  be  that  you 
know  not  the  signs  for  which  we 
watch  —  the  old,  old  signs — you 
may  see  them  everywhere —  in  Beth 
lehem  and  in  all  the  world  wherever 
a  fire  is  burning  in  a  Christian  home 
on  Christmas  Eve  —  have  you  never 
watched  for  them  ?" 


Then  there  came  a  scene  which 
will  linger  in  memory  as  long  as 
Christmastide  shall  come  for  me, 
when  those  young  faces  were  gathered 
about  us  in  the  wavering  firelight  to 
hear  and  see  what  the  old  Greek  and 
his  daughter  were  about  to  make 
known — this  tale  of  the  signs  in  ( 
the  Christmas  fire. 

"  Have  you  never  heard  the  story 
—  how  three  signs  were  given  before 
that  first  Christmas  day,  and  how 
watching  by  a  Christmas  fire  you 
may  see  them  everywhere  still  ?  " 

The  voice  was  low ;  his  counte 
nance  glowed  with  zest. 

"Each  sign  was  suited  to  the 
hearts  of  those  that  received  it,  and 
the  three  groups  that  came  to  Beth 
lehem  were  such  as  to  stand  for  all 
that  is  good  in  the  whole  world. 
Have  you  never  heard  of  this? 
Listen.1' 

Leaning  toward  his  daughter  he 
spoke  a  word  or  two  in  undertone. 
We  saw  her  face  brighten  anew. 

"Each  group  received  its  own 
sign,"  he  said  turning  to  us. 

Then  he  laid  his  hand  on  Chris 
tina's  shoulder.  Joyously  she  pointed 
to  a  spark  glowing  in  the  black  wall 
of  the  fireplace. 

"There  is  the  sign  of  the  star  in 
the  east,"  he  said.  "Watch  it  — 
watch  it,  here  in  your  Christmas 
fire!" 


THE    SIGNS    IN   THE 

The  old  Greek^s  earnest  manner 
made  the  quaint  symbol  very  real  as 
the  spark  for  the  moment  mounted 
in  the  dark  expanse.  Presently,  in 
a  voice  touched  by  the  low,  chanting 
tone  of  the  Oriental  story-teller,  he 
said :  "  Far  to  the  east,  far  across 
the  waste  of  the  desert,  beyond  the 
silence  and  the  loneliness  and  the 
pale  distances,  there  were  ancient 
cities  and  peoples.  And  among  them 
were  learned  men  whom  they  called 
Magi.  Companions  and  teachers  of 
kings  were  they,  keepers  of  knowl 
edge  dear  to  the  East,  above  all 
watchers  of  the  stars.  Such  was  the 
Magi's  calling." 

He  sat  a  moment  in  quietness 
stroking  his  beard  and  looking  at 
the  listeners  as  if  questioning  how 
to  lead  them  on.  Then  his  counte 
nance  lightened  afresh  and  he  raised 
his  hand  with  the  palm  toward  the 
fireglow. 

"Could  you  but  look  on  those  skies 
—  those  sparkling  silences  above  our 
ancient  lands  —  could  you  but  pass 
one  night  with  nothing  between  you 
and  their  pure,  wide  heights  —  you 
would  not  wonder  that  men  of  old 
saw  signs  in  such  stars.  Was  a  great 
man  born  ?  They  watched  for  the 
stars  to  make  it  known.  Was  a 
kingdom  rising  or  falling?  Surely 
the  stars  w  ould  reveal  this  also.  So 
did  men  feel  after  God  in  those  days." 


Then  he  leaned  toward  us  with 
awakening  directness.  "  Those  Magi 
knew  the  .sacred  books  of  the  peoples 
round  about !  They  would  surely 
hear  how  in  Jerusalem  men  were 
looking  for  the  birth  of  a  kingly 
deliverer  promised  by  ancient  Jew 
ish  prophets  !  Do  you  not  see  ? 
They  would  be  watching  the  stars 
for  a  sign  that  this  king  of  the 
Jews  was  born  ! " 

lie  paused,  looking  about  as  if  to 
say,  "Is  that  all  clear?" 

"  But  what  made  them  take  a 
certain  star  for  a  sign?"  broke  in 
a  tall  youth  who  was  peering  over 
a  cluster  of  girlish  heads;  "the  sky 
was  full  of  stars  night  after  night 
—  what  happened,  I  wonder?" 

Dr.  Melisander  looked  up  at  the 
lad,  raising  his  brows  and  half  play 
fully  lifting  a  finger. 

"  Ah,  that  pleases  me  much,  it 
makes  glad  my  heart  that  you 
should  ask  me  of  this.  Shall  I  tell 
you  —  I  who  have  studied  these 
things  many  years  —  shall  I  try  to 
tell  you  somewhat  of  this?" 

All  made  ready  to  listen,  bright 
eyes  glancing  meanwhile  at  the 
youth's  earnest  face  in  a  way  that 
maidens  have.  The  smile  that 
marked  the  story-teller's  pleasure 
lingered,  then  faded. 

*'  It  troubles  me,  my  friends,  that 
so  many  should  think  it  must  have 


THE    SIGNS    IN    THE 

been  some  strange  star  —  a  star 
shining  out  of  place  and  moving 
above  their  heads  near  enough  to 
show  them  their  way.  Ah  —  that 
is  to  forget  what  manner  of  men 
those  old  star  watchers  were !  Shall 
I  try  to  tell  you  how  I  think  of  the 
star  they  saw  ?  " 

The  ripple  of  pleasure  in  our 
group  left  no  room  for  misgiving. 
The  old  man  sat  rubbing  his  palms 
together.  He  laughed  quietly, 
watching  the  flurry  of  expectancy 
and  peering  into  one  and  another 
of  the  faces  around  him. 

"  Well,  let  me  see  —  let  me  see  ! " 
Then  his  eyes  grew  grave.  Would 
that  I  could  cause  the  mellow  tones 
of  his  voice  to  be  heard  as  I  tell 
how  he  went  on. 

"  I  used  to  think  upon  these  things 
when  our  home  was  first  in  Bethle 
hem.  Many  an  evening  I  would  go 
out  on  the  hillsides  or  walk  along  the 
road  that  leads  down  from  Jerusalem 
and  watch  the  stars  above  our  little 
town.  And  I  would  say  to  myself, 
'  Here  those  Magi  stood,  and  they 
looked  on  those  stars  as  I  do  now.1 
Then  I  would  ponder  on  the  words 
about  the  star  that  went  before 
them.  '  How  could  a  star  go  be 
fore  them  ? '  I  would  ask  alone  in 
the  dark. 

"  I  knew  well  what  learned  men 
had  written  of  these  things;  above 


all,  I  had  read  many  times  what  one 
of  the  greatest  among  them  had  left 
on  record  —  how  he  had  seen  Jupiter 
and  Saturn  shining  together  as  never 
before  in  his  time  and  somehow  had 
thought  of  the  star  the  Magi  saw  — 
how  he  had  reckoned  the  times  when 
they  had  so  met  before  and  found 
that  of  a  truth  the  same  shining 
wonder  was  in  the  sky  three  times  in 
a  single  year  just  before  that  birth 
in  Bethlehem-" 

"And  was  that  the  star  the  wise 
men  saw  ?  "  Some  one  was  too  eager 
to  wait.  It  was  the  voice  of  a  girl. 
Dr.  Melisander  shook  his  head,  smil 
ing  at  this  token  of  success,  but  he 
did  not  look  at  the  questioner. 

"I  cannot  say  that  —  cannot 
quite  say  that,  though  this  great 
man  believed  it  was  indeed  the  very 
star.  There  was  a  skyful  of  stars, 
you  know,  and  those  old  Magi  were 
watching  them  all  with  their  own 
way  of  thinking.  Yet  with  such 
wonder-bearing  skies  —  do  you  not 
see?  It  is  most  beautiful  to  think 
of  it  all  as  they  did  !  This  is  what 
I  tried  to  do  as  I  watched  the  stars 
over  Bethlehem. 

"  One  night  —  ah,  how  well  do  I 
remember  it !  I  had  strolled  along 
the  road  as  far  as  the  Tomb  of 
Rachel,  a  mile  or  more  toward 
Jerusalem,  and  had  turned  home 
ward.  Bethlehem  was  lifted  before 


A 


THE    SIGNS    IN    THE 

me  on  the  hillside.  Its  flat-roofed 
houses  were  spread  in  the  starlight 
from  the  high  ridge  of  the  hill  rising 
against  the  west  down  the  slope  lead 
ing  to  the  fields  and  sheep  pastures 
eastward.  The  air  was  sweet  and 
cleai\  I  could  see  where  the  orchards 
and  gardens  were  on  the  terraces 
about  the  hill  and  even  the  fields 
below  where  shepherds  were  keeping 
watch  over  their  flocks.  I  remem 
ber  that  I  heard  a  man's  voice  call 
ing  somewhere  in  the  valley  and 
knew  it  was  a  shepherd's  outcry  to 
drive  off  some  prowling  wild  beast. 
But  this  only  made  me  feel  more 
than  before  how  still  it  was. 

"  The  stars  that  night  had  thrown 
a  deep  spell  upon  me.  I  lingered 
long.  So  it  was  that  I  fell  to  watch 
ing  hour  by  hour  what  I  had  never 
thought  of  before.  The  stars  in  the 
southern  sky  appeared  to  be  moving 
before  me  —  right  over  our  small 
town  there  on  the  hill.  I  watched 
them  far  into  the  night,  until  one  and 
another  went  down.  And  as  their 
beautiful  procession  moved  on  and 
on,  I  noticed  that  the  hill  raised 
itself  against  the  western  sky  so 
that  as  I  looked  up  the  stars  seemed 
at  last  to  hover  over  its  top.  Then 
I  thought  of  the  words,  'And  the 
star,  which  they  saw  in  the  east,  went 
before  them,  till  it  came  and  stood 
over  where  the  young  child  was.' 


CHRISTMAS    FIRE 


"This  filled  me  with  joyful  ques 
tioning.  '  Can  it  be,1  I  said,  '  that 
this  was  the  very  sight  which  the 
Magi  saw  ? ' 

"  While  I  thought  upon  this  a 
star  strangely  bright  and  sparkling 
was  shining  low  in  the  west.  I  had 
been  watching  its  beauty,  knowing 
that  two  of  the  brightest  stars  in 
the  sky  were  shining  there  as  one. 
So  I  came  to  the  spot  where  the 
road  divides  as  it  nears  Bethlehem. 
I  was  about  to  follow  its  way  west 
ward  around  the  hill.  But  suddenly 
—  I  know  not  how  —  I  turned  and 
followed  the  road  to  the  low  eastern 
slope  where  the  traveler  faces  the 
west  as  he  climbs  the  hill  into  Beth 
lehem.  And  lo  !  —  I  tell  you  what 
I  saw  —  that  gleaming  star  seemed 
to  stand  of  a  truth  above  the  high, 
dark  top  of  the  hill ! 

"  '  Can  it  be,"1 1  said,  being  amazed, 
*  can  it  be  that  I  have  seen  what  the 
Magi  saw  as  they,  too,  came  by  this 
road  into  Bethlehem  ?' 

"So  I  climbed  the  hill-road  and 
entered  our  home,  thinking  of  the 
Magi  and  the  young  child,  and 
wondering ! " 

He  ceased  speaking.  Was  it  the 
memory  of  that  star  over  the  hilltop 
or  yearning  for  his  Bethlehem  home 
which  gave  him  pause  ?  His  brood 
ing  face  was  overcast  with  pensive 
light.  He  startled  when  one  of  our 


THE    SIGNS    IN    THE 

company  said,  "  Oh,  if  we  could  only 
know  whether  that  star  also  was 
there  when  the  wise  men  came  ! " 

"  But  we  do  know,"  he  answered, 
"  we  do  know  !  With  what  joy 
have  I  learned  that  an  astronomer 
here  in  your  own  country  watched 
that  very  conjunction  of  Jupiter  and 
Venus  —  and  thought  of  the  star  of 
the  Magi  —  and  made  reckonings 
which  leave  no  doubt !  That  star 
which  I  myself  watched  above  the 
Bethlehem  hill  was  there  indeed 
near  the  time  when  Mary's  son  was 
born!" 

He  quickly  lifted  his  arms  and 
sat  thus  a  moment,  making  a  noble 
picture  in  the  firelight.  Then  speak 
ing  under  his  breath  and  with  an 
old  man's  trembling,  he  exclaimed, 
"  Oh,  do  you  wonder  that  I,  who 
have  been  deep  into  the  desert  — 
who  have  sat  beside  a  little  tent 
watching  the  glories  of  night  in  that 
clear  silence  —  I,  who  have  gazed 
on  the  stars  over  Bethlehem,  stand 
ing  in  the  very  road  along  which 
the  Magi  came — do  you  wonder 
that  I  would  have  you  cease  think 
ing  of  some  passing  miracle-star  and 
remember  what  the  Magi  surely  saw  ? 
In  them  the  learning  of  the  ancient 
world  was  finding  its  way  to  our 
Christ ! " 

The  manner  of  the  man  was  so 
kindled  by  his  earnestness,  his  person 


, 


CHRISTMAS    FIRE 


so  patriarchal,  his  voice  so  sweet  and 
touched  with  the  pathos  of  the  East, 
that  a  hush  never  to  be  forgotten 
followed  these  words.  No  one  spoke. 
Lowering  his  hands  to  his  knees  he 
sat  looking  at  us. 

"They  knew  not  where  to  find 
the  Babe  at  first ! "  he  said  at  length. 
"They  only  understood  that  he  was 
born  somewhere  among  the  Jews. 
Not  until  they  had  come  to  the 
Jewish  capital  asking,  '  Where  is  he 
that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews  ? ' 
—  not  until  they  had  heard  the 
scholars  of  the  holy  city  saying,  *  In 
Bethlehem  of  Judea '  —  not  until 
they  had  taken  the  six-mile  road 
southward  to  our  little  town,  did 
that  star  which  they  had  seen  in  the 
east  and  taken  for  a  sign  appear  to 
go  before  them.  Then  they  rejoiced 
with  exceeding  great  joy  ! " 

He  raised  his  hand  and  silently 
scanned  the  faces  about  him.  Then 
he  said  slowly,  "  So  learning1  was  on 
the  way  to  Bethlehem" 

Our  Christmas  fire  was  burning 
low  when  Dr.  Melisander  reached 
this  point  in  his  narrative.  The 
light  of  flames  was  gone  and  our 
company  was  covered  with  the  glow 
of  red  embers. 

.  So  intent  had  we  been  that  none 
had  noticed  Christina  since  she 
pointed  to  the  sign  of  the  star. 
But  now  the  father  suddenly  be- 


THE   SIGNS    IN   THE 

thought  himself  and  turned  to  his 
daughter.  She  had  dropped  to  her 
knees  at  the  hearth.  Like  a  wor 
shiper  we  saw  her  in  the  radiance, 
her  face  pure  as  the  ruddy  light. 

"Have  you  seen  it,  my  child  — 
have  you  seen  it?" 

"Yes,  my  father."  She  looked 
up,  but  only  for  a  moment. 

The  girPs  young  grace  touched 
the  father's  heart ;  he  uttered  words 
which,  if  I  mistake  not,  meant 
"  Favor  of  God  " ;  and  the  old  man 
smiled,  looking  at  his  daughter  the 
while. 

Then  with  quietness,  yet  as  if  in 
haste,  he  went  on  : 

"  Down  that  same  road  —  not  long 
before,  I  know  not  how  long  —  two 
travelers  had  passed  before  those 
Magi,  a  man  and  a  young  woman. 
I  Slowly,  gently  he  led  her  on.  In 
their  hearts  was  a  strange  joy.  For 
they,  too,  had  received  a  sign.  When 
they  came  in  sight  of  Bethlehem  the 
man  was  glad ;  for  the  journey  had 
been  long  for  her  and  the  roads 
rough.  But  when  they  reached  the 
town  on  the  hill,  there  was  no  room 
for  them  in  the  inn  !  All  the  lodg 
ing  stalls  around  the  court  where 
travelers  tied  up  their  beasts  for  the 
night  were  filled  by  those  who  had 
come  before  them.  Then  the  man 
made  ready  a  resting-place  for  the 
weary  woman  in  one  of  the  hillside 


l\ 


CHRISTMAS    FIRE 

caves,  which  were  often  used  in  this 
way  by  the  poor." 

Dr.  Melisander  stopped.  In  the 
hush  that  was  upon  us  he  said,  "*Sb 
love  had  come  to  Bethlehem.'1'' 

Then  speaking  in  low  tones  as  of 
a  mystery,  he  went  on : 

"Before  long  —  it  was  night,  and 
the  shepherds  who  tended  the  Temple 
sheep  were  keeping  watch  over  their 
flocks  in  the  pastures  around  Beth 
lehem —  a  strange  thing  happened! 
These  working  men  knew  how  the 
teachers  of  their  religion  up  at  the 
Temple  were  looking  for  a  Saviour 
to  come !  They  could  not  forget 
how  men  said  that  he  was  to  be 
born  in  Bethlehem  there  on  the  hill ! 
And  as  they  kept  watch  that  night, 
alone,  under  the  bright  stars,  they 
had  a  vision  —  a  heavenly  messenger 
and  a  light  shining  round  them  — 
a  voice  saying  that  a  Saviour  was 
even  then  born  in  Bethlehem.  And 
these  frightened  shepherds  heard  the 
voice  saying,  '  This  is  the  sign  unto 
you :  Ye  shall  find  a  babe  wrapped 
in  swaddling  clothes,  and  lying  in 
a  manger.'1 

"  When  all  was  silent  and  they 
were  standing  alone  in  the  starry 
pastures,  they  soon  started  for  Beth 
lehem.  And  when  they  had  found 
the  cave,  the  sign  came  true !  There 
was  a  babe  —  and  it  was  wrapped 
in  bands  just  as  the  little  ones  of 


THE    SIGNS   IN    THE 

shepherds  were  —  and  of  a  truth  it 
was  lying  in  a  common  manger ! " 

Once  more  he  lifted  his  hand, 
smiling  as  he  said,  "So  labor  had 
come  to  Bethlehem!'1'' 

Presently  he  glanced  at  Christina, 
who  had  remained  on  her  knees  be 
fore  the  fire. 

"  How  gladly  do  we  watch  for  this 
sign,"  he  exclaimed,  "  the  sign  given 
to  those  working  men ! "'  Quickly 
he  leaned  toward  his  daughter. 
And  the  girl,  her  countenance  beam 
ing  with  delight  in  a  custom  of  her 
childhood,  pointed  into  the  bank 
of  coals  —  pointed  to  a  little  hollow 
all  aglow  with  light. 

"Do  you  not  see  it?"  he  cried, 
bending  over  the  embers.  "  Do  you 
not  see  it  —  the  sign  of  the  cave 
with  the  manger?" 

The  waning  firelight  lent  its 
witchery,  making  the  quaint  fancy 
the  more  vivid,  and  for  my  part  I 
could  almost  see  the  dim  outline 
of  the  manger! 

The  old  man's  voice  was  in  keep 
ing  with  the  soft  light  and  the 
tenderness  of  the  moment  as  he 
raised  himself  and  said  :  "  How  the 
shepherd  children  would  listen  when 
their  fathers  told  at  home  of  the 
babe  they  had  seen  in  the  manger 
—  in  the  cave !  There  is  a  little 
song  of  what  they  would  say  —  a 
song  which  Christina  has  often  sung 


I 


CHEISTMAS    FIRE 


for  me  when  we  have  looked  upon 
this  sign  in  Christmas  fires.  Sing 
it  for  us  to-night,  my  daughter ;  let 
your  father  hear  once  more  the  song 
you  learned  when  —  when  you  were 
a  little  child." 

Then  the  girl,  still  kneeling  in 
the  red  glow,  sang  in  a  voice  gentle 
as  a  child's  at  prayer  this  Song  of 
the  Shepherd  Children. 


"  Know  you  the  hillside  ? 

Know  you  where  the  cave  is  ? 
Heard  you  there  a  baby  voice  where  cattle 

lowed  before  ? 
Oh,  may  we  children  go  ? 
Soft  shall  be  our  footsteps  — 
Softly  will  we  sing  to  him,  kneeling  at  the 
door : 

'  Kyrie  !  *  Kyrie !  Dear  little  stranger  ! 
Dark  is  the  cave  and  rough  is  the  manger — 
Well  do  the  children  of  shepherds  know. 
Is  a  soft  arm  around  you  pressed  ? 
Are  you  held  close  to  a  warm,   sweet 

breast  ? 
How  gently  you  slumber  with  naught  to 

molest ; 

Oh,  well  do  we  children  know!  —  we 
know! 

II 

"  Heard  you  an  angel  ? 

Heard  you  voices  singing  ? 
Saw  you  light  upon  the  hill  around  the 

frightened  sheep? 
Oh,  truly  did  they  say, 
Christ  —  and  Lord  —  and  Saviour  ? 
This  shall  be  our  song  to  him  while  he 
lies  asleep : 


»  The  Greek  word  for  Lord. 


THE    SIGNS    IN    THE 

"  Kyrie  !  Kyrie  !     Angels  may  name  you 
Saviour  of  all,  yet  still  can  we  claim  you  — 

Well  do  we  Bethlehem  children  know. 
Over  yon  hill  a  great  city  lies  — 
Kingdoms  are  far  away  under  the  skies  ; 
Your  manger  will   some  day  be  dear  in 

their  eyes  ! 

For  you  are  a  King  —  we  know !  we 
know ! " 

Who  of  us  that  sat  in  the  dim 
radiance  of  that  Christmas  fire  and 
listened  to  the  Greek  girl's  singing 
can  ever  forget  it !  No  one  was 
willing  to  break  the  hush  which 
Christina's  voice  had  made.  Her 
father  sat  gazing  upon  the  coals 
with  the  light  of  far  memories  in 


At  length  I  ventured  to  say : 
"  You  have  not  told  us,  sir.  of  the 
sign  given  before  love  came  to  Beth 
lehem.  Is  that  to  be  seen  here  also?" 

"  Oh,"  he  answered  gently,  "  that 
is  in  your  hearts  —  in  your  hearts  ! 
Do  you  not  remember  ?  When  the 
promise  of  a  son  was  given  to  Mary 
in  Nazareth  and  she  asked  for  a  sign 
—  do  you  not  remember?  'That 
which  is  to  be  born  shall  be  called 
holy,  the  Son  of  God.'  Has  not 
that  sign  come  true  at  this  fireside 
to-night  ?  " 

Presently  Christina  rose,  seated 
herself  close  to  her  father  and  laid 
her  hand  on  his  knee.  Together 
they  bat,  still  looking  into  the  fire 
place  as  if  loath  to  turn  away. 


V/ 

i 


After  a  time  the  father  said  : 
"So  love  and  labor  and  learning 
came    to    Bethlehem.       And    these 
three  stand  for  all  that  is  good  in 
the  whole  world."" 

Half  playfully  he  took  his  daugh 
ter's  hand  in  his  own  and  drew  it  to 
his  breast  as  he  added,  "  And  the 
greatest  of  these  is  love ! " 

Then  the  girl,  leaning  toward 
him,  looked  up  into  his  face  with 
a  sweet  rapture  in  her  eyes  and  said 
softly,  "  Merry  Christmas,  my  good 
father ! " 

We  heard  the  bells  in  neighbor 
ing  spires  pealing  through  the  dark. 
We  listened  while  they  sounded  over 
the  snow-whitened  city  the  joy  of 
Christmas  Eve. 

"  Yes,"  said  Dr.  Melisander,  rising 
when  their  music  ceased  for  a  time, 
"Yes,  a  Merry   Christmas   to   you  I 
all!" 

When  I  had  placed  his  cloak  on 
his  broad  shoulders  and  we  stood 
for  the  moment  alone  in  the  hall, 
he  said  in  undertone  :  "  Ah,  sir,  she 
does  not  'know,  my  daughter  must 
never  know  the  memories  which 
come  to  me  when  I  look  on  her 
beauty  in  the  light  of  a  Christmas 
fire.  But  you  are  a  father,  sir  — 
may  I  not  speak  of  this  to  you  — 
will  you  not  share  my  burden  ?  " 

He  has  laid  down  his  burden  now  ; 
and  the  years  have  let  his  daughter 


THE    SIGNS    IN    THE 


know  how  heavy  it  was  from  other 
lips  than  mine.  Therefore  none 
can  blame  me  for  telling  what  he 
said  that  night  ere  we  parted. 

"When  she  was  a  babe  in  Beth 
lehem,  her  mother  and  I  used  to 
watch  for  those  signs,  rejoicing  to- 
g^her  and  saying, '  So  will  we  teach 
our  child  the  Bethlehem  story  — 
soon,  very  soon  now.'  But,  sir, 
before  our  little  one  knew  words, 
my  wife  was  taken  from  me ! " 

"  Taken  from  you  ! "  I  repeated. 

"Ah,  you  cannot  understand  — 
you  know  not  the  lot  of  villagers  in 
that  sacred  land,  what  feuds  break 
out,  what  uprisings  of  allies  seeking 
revenge !  Then  come  the  Moslem 
soldiers  —  many  are  carried  away  to 
prisons,  it  matters  not  who  —  and 
money,  much  money  must  be  paid. 
At  such  a  time  was  my  gentle  wife 
taken.  My  hands  were  helpless.  It 
was  more  than  she  could  endure ; 
and  soon  my  beautiful  Miladeh  — 
daughter  of  Christmastide  —  was 
no  more!  And  I  —  to  save  her 
daughter  —  I  am  a  sojourner  in  far 
lands;  even  to  your  America  have 
I  come.  For  I  am  growing  old,  sir, 
and  I  would  leave  her  —  when  I 
must  —  leave  her  in  a  Christian 
land." 

The  old  man  drew  his  cloak  about 
him  and  fastened  it  under  his  beard. 

"Yours  is  a  Christian  land  —  is 


CHRISTMAS    FIRE 

it  not,  sir?  —  a  Christian  land  in 
deed.  Hear  those  great  bells  once 
more  filling  your  city  with  the  music 
of  Christmas  Eve  ! " 

Then  he  turned  to  the  group  of 
girls  talking  in  the  happiness  of  the 
time  around  his  daughter. 

"Come,  Christina!"  he  called 
cheerily,  "we  must  go  our  way  be 
fore  the  bells  cease  ringing." 

But  none  of  them  knew  what 
bravery  was  in  that  tone  of  cheer ! 

Out  in  the  falling  snow  we  saw 
Christina  place  her  arm  in  his. 
Once  more  we  called,  "  Merry  Christ 
mas."  And  as  they  went  their  way 
the  great  bells  were  ringing  still. 


